Politics

Kogi elections: Melaye denies collecting N3bn from Atiku, Dangote

The Kogi governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dino Melaye has refuted reports that he collected N3 billion from PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Aliko Dangote for the state gubernatorial elections.

The former lawmaker cleared the air during a dinner organised in his honour by members of his campaign organisation, in the Federal Capital Territory.

Melaye described the claims that he collected N1 billion from Atiku and N2 billion from Dangote as the handiwork of his detractors who wanted to derail his campaign.

The PDP governorship candidate said; “One of the lessons is that the east now know more than ever before, that they cannot become governor alone. You will have to collaborate with other zones to become governor.

“The second lesson is also for those of us from the west. Next time, we should listen to the words of wisdom from our elders and not from commercialized characters who because of their individual and selfish interests created problems for us.

“Because at the end of the day, what our elders have been saying that this will be the worst (election) for us, is eventually what happened.”

Earlier, he said the November 11 polls has shown that a single senatorial district cannot unanimously produce the governor.

Melaye said; “Everybody has been served breakfast, I want to believe that by the grace of God, we have learnt our lesson from this election.

“So, all we need to do is not to get disillusioned, It is not to get disenchanted, It is not to get discouraged. It is for us to hold ourselves together as a political family and say, that what we lost on the streets, we will regain at the roundabout.

“And this election also taught a lot of lessons three lessons. One of the lessons is that the East now know more than ever before, that they cannot become governor alone. You will have to collaborate with another zone to become governor. And I want to believe that it is not over yet, it is not.

“The second lesson is also for those of us from the West. That next time we should listen to words of wisdom from our elders and not from commercialized characters, not from those who because of their individual and selfish interests created problems for us.”